CQP Cheniere Energy Partners LP

Raises 2018 Guidance and Provides 2019 Guidance

Raises Run Rate Production and Financial Guidance

Achieves First LNG Production From Train 5 of SPL Project

Signs EPC Contract with Bechtel for Train 6 of SPL Project and Issues Limited Notice to Proceed

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE American: CQP):

   

Summary of Third Quarter 2018 Results (in millions, except LNG data)

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30,   2018     2017   2018     2017 Revenues $ 1,529 $ 903 $ 4,529 $ 2,786 Net income $ 307 $ 23 $ 923 $ 116 Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 604 $ 298 $ 1,825 $ 900 LNG exported: Number of cargoes 65 44 193 135 Volumes (TBtu) 228 160 691 482 LNG volumes loaded (TBtu) 228 162 691 483  

Summary Distribution Guidance

2018 Full Year Distribution Guidance

2018

Distribution per Unit

$2.27 - $2.30  

2019 Full Year Distribution Guidance

2019 Distribution per Unit $2.35- $2.55  

Run Rate Distribution Guidance

Run Rate2

Distribution per Unit

$3.30 - $3.60

Adjusted Nominal Production Capacity per Train3 (mtpa)

4.5 - 4.9

1.

 

Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” for further details.

2.

Run rate is assumed to be the first full year of operations for Trains 1-5 at the SPL Project.

3.

Includes expected impacts of planned maintenance, production reliability, potential overdesign, and debottlenecking opportunities.

 

Recent Achievements

Strategic

• In November 2018, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”) entered into an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract with Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc. (“Bechtel”) for Train 6 of the SPL Project (defined below). SPL also issued limited notice to proceed to Bechtel to commence early engineering, procurement, and site works.

Operational

• As of October 31, 2018, more than 215 cargoes have been produced, loaded, and exported from the SPL Project (defined below) in 2018. To date, more than 475 cumulative LNG cargoes have been exported from the SPL Project, with deliveries to 29 countries and regions worldwide.
• In September 2018, feed gas was introduced to Train 5 of the SPL Project as part of the commissioning process, and first LNG production from Train 5 occurred in October 2018.

Financial

• In September 2018, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.1 billion of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 CQP Senior Notes”). Net proceeds of the offering, after deducting commissions, fees and expenses, were used to prepay all of the outstanding indebtedness under our credit facilities (the “CQP Credit Facilities”). After applying the proceeds from this offering, only a $115 million revolving credit facility remains as part of the CQP Credit Facilities, and both the 2026 CQP Senior Notes and our outstanding $1.5 billion of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2025 became unsecured.

Liquefaction Project Update

  SPL Project Liquefaction Train   Train 5   Train 6 Project Status Commissioning   Permitted Project Completion Percentage(1) 98.5% — Expected Substantial Completion 1Q 2019 — Note: Project update excludes Trains in operation (1) Project completion percentage as of September 30, 2018  

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“Cheniere Partners”) (NYSE American: CQP) reported net income of $307 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to net income of $23 million for the comparable period in 2017. Cheniere Partners reported net income of $923 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to net income of $116 million for the comparable period in 2017. The increases in net income were primarily due to increased income from operations as a result of additional natural gas liquefaction trains (“Trains”) in operation at the SPL Project and decreased loss on modification or extinguishment of debt, partially offset by increased interest expense, net of amounts capitalized.

Adjusted EBITDA1 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $604 million and $1.8 billion, respectively, compared to $298 million and $900 million for the comparable 2017 periods. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to increased income from operations.

Total revenues increased $626 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017. Total revenues increased $1.7 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Total operating costs and expenses increased $331 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017. Total operating costs and expenses increased $904 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increases in revenues and total operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the comparable periods in 2017, were primarily driven by the timing of completion of Trains at the SPL Project and the length of each Train’s operations within the periods being compared.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, 65 and 193 LNG cargoes, respectively, were exported from the SPL Project, none of which were commissioning cargoes.

SPL Project

We are developing up to six Trains at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities (the “SPL Project”). Each Train is expected to have a nominal production capacity, which is prior to adjusting for planned maintenance, production reliability, potential overdesign, and debottlenecking opportunities, of approximately 4.5 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG and a run rate adjusted nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 to 4.9 mtpa of LNG. Trains 1 through 4 are operational, Train 5 is undergoing commissioning, and Train 6 is being commercialized and has all necessary regulatory approvals in place.

Distributions to Unitholders

We will pay a cash distribution per common and subordinated unit of $0.58 to unitholders of record as of November 5, 2018 and the related general partner distribution on November 14, 2018.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

Cheniere Energy, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its financial and operating results for the third quarter on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 10 a.m. Eastern time / 9 a.m. Central time. A listen-only webcast of the call and an accompanying slide presentation may be accessed through our website at www.cheniere.com. Following the call, an archived recording will be made available on our website. The call and accompanying slide presentation may include financial and operating results or other information regarding Cheniere Partners.

About Cheniere Partners

Cheniere Partners, through its subsidiary, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”), is developing, constructing, and operating natural gas liquefaction facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on the Sabine-Neches Waterway less than four miles from the Gulf Coast. Cheniere Partners, through SPL, plans to construct up to six Trains, which are in various stages of development, construction, and operations. Trains 1 through 4 are operational, Train 5 is undergoing commissioning, and Train 6 is being commercialized and has all necessary regulatory approvals in place. Each Train is expected to have a nominal production capacity, which is prior to adjusting for planned maintenance, production reliability, potential overdesign, and debottlenecking opportunities, of approximately 4.5 mtpa of LNG and a run rate adjusted nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 to 4.9 mtpa of LNG.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., Cheniere Partners owns and operates regasification facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal, which includes pre-existing infrastructure of five LNG storage tanks with aggregate capacity of approximately 16.9 billion cubic feet equivalent, two marine berths that can each accommodate vessels with nominal capacity of up to 266,000 cubic meters and vaporizers with regasification capacity of approximately 4.0 Bcf/d. Cheniere Partners also owns a 94-mile pipeline that interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of large interstate pipelines through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cheniere Creole Trail Pipeline, L.P.

For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are “forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking statements” are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere Partners’ financial and operational guidance, business strategy, plans and objectives, including the development, construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii) statements regarding expectations regarding regulatory authorizations and approvals, (iii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere Partners’ LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (iv) statements regarding the business operations and prospects of third parties, (v) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, and (vi) statements regarding future discussions and entry into contracts. Although Cheniere Partners believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere Partners’ actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners’ periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere Partners does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

    Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Consolidated Statements of Income (in millions, except per unit data) ((1)) (unaudited)   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30,   September 30,   2018       2017     2018       2017   Revenues LNG revenues $ 1,249 $ 723 $ 3,419 $ 1,718 LNG revenues—affiliate 205 111 886 864 Regasification revenues 66 65 196 195 Other revenues 9 3 28 7 Other revenues—affiliate   —     1     —     2   Total revenues 1,529 903 4,529 2,786   Operating costs and expenses Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization expense shown separately below) 756 490 2,291 1,580 Operating and maintenance expense 113 73 306 205 Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate 31 31 87 70 Development expense 1 1 2 2 General and administrative expense 3 5 9 10 General and administrative expense—affiliate 18 18 53 63 Depreciation and amortization expense 107 87 318 239 Impairment expense and loss on disposal of assets 8 — 8 — Other   —     1     —     1   Total operating costs and expenses   1,037     706     3,074     2,170     Income from operations 492 197 1,455 616   Other income (expense) Interest expense, net of capitalized interest (183 ) (153 ) (552 ) (437 ) Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt (12 ) (25 ) (12 ) (67 ) Derivative gain (loss), net 2 1 13 (2 ) Other income   8     3     19     6   Total other expense   (185 )   (174 )   (532 )   (500 )   Net income $ 307   $ 23   $ 923   $ 116     Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit $ 0.60   $ (1.10 ) $ 1.82   $ (4.12 )   Weighted average number of common units outstanding used for basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit calculation 348.6 247.2 348.6 121.2

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(1)   Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.       Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in millions, except unit data) (1)

  September 30, December 31,   2018     2017   ASSETS (unaudited) Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ — Restricted cash 1,457 1,589 Accounts and other receivables 224 191 Accounts receivable—affiliate 22 163 Advances to affiliate 189 36 Inventory 88 95 Other current assets   55     65   Total current assets 2,035 2,139   Property, plant and equipment, net 15,282 15,139 Debt issuance costs, net 15 38 Non-current derivative assets 25 31 Other non-current assets, net   179     206   Total assets $ 17,536   $ 17,553     LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 13 $ 12 Accrued liabilities 503 637 Due to affiliates 53 68 Deferred revenue 119 111 Deferred revenue—affiliate — 1 Derivative liabilities   6     —   Total current liabilities 694 829   Long-term debt, net 16,059 16,046 Non-current derivative liabilities 2 3 Other non-current liabilities 10 11 Other non-current liabilities—affiliate 23 25   Partners’ equity Common unitholders’ interest (348.6 million units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017) 1,759 1,670 Subordinated unitholders’ interest (135.4 million units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017) (1,008 ) (1,043 ) General partner’s interest (2% interest with 9.9 million units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017)   (3 )   12   Total partners’ equity   748     639   Total liabilities and partners’ equity $ 17,536   $ 17,553  

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(1)   Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

Regulation G Reconciliation

In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the accompanying news release contains a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used to facilitate comparisons of operating performance across periods. This non-GAAP measure should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for our U.S. GAAP measures of performance and the financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and the reconciliation from these results should be carefully evaluated.

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking net income before interest expense, net of capitalized interest, changes in the fair value and settlement of our interest rate derivatives, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and adjusting for the effects of certain non-cash items, other non-operating income or expense items and other items not otherwise predictive or indicative of ongoing operating performance, including the effects of modification or extinguishment of debt and changes in the fair value of our commodity derivatives. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flows from operations or net income (loss) as defined by U.S. GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful information to management, investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating the effectiveness of our operating performance in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization which vary substantially from company to company depending on capital structure, the method by which assets were acquired and depreciation policies. Further, the exclusion of certain non-cash items, other non-operating income or expense items and other items not otherwise predictive or indicative of ongoing operating performance enables comparability to prior period performance and trend analysis.

Adjusted EBITDA

The following table reconciles our Adjusted EBITDA to U.S. GAAP results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in millions):

  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30,   2018       2017     2018       2017   Net income $ 307 $ 23 $ 923 $ 116 Interest expense, net of capitalized interest 183 153 552 437 Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt 12 25 12 67 Derivative loss (gain), net (2 ) (1 ) (13 ) 2 Other income   (8 )   (3 )   (19 )   (6 ) Income from operations $ 492   $ 197   $ 1,455   $ 616   Adjustments to reconcile income from operations to Adjusted EBITDA: Depreciation and amortization expense 107 87 318 239 Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of commodity derivatives, net (10 ) 14 37 45 Impairment expense and loss on disposal of assets 8 — 8 — Legal settlement expense   7     —     7     —   Adjusted EBITDA $ 604   $ 298   $ 1,825   $ 900  

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Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.InvestorsRandy Bhatia, 713-375-5479Megan Light, 713-375-5492orMedia RelationsEben Burnham-Snyder, 713-375-5764